Liquid-dispensing device



Dec. 9, 1930. E. K. SKONBERG 1,784,795

LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May 26, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Invenfir: NH .E'rz'oES/lronber Dec. 9, 1930. E. K. SKONBERG LIQUID DISPENSINGDEVICE Filed May 26, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inqen'or:

Patented Dec. 9, 1930 PATENT FICE ERIC K. SKONBERG, or BROOKLYN, NEWYORK, ASSIGNOR T TiiERM o-MAT DIS- rnnsnn, me, A CORPORATION or new YORKLIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Application filed ma 26,

My invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing liquids and, moreparticularly, to a coin-controlled dispensing device, although certainfeatures of the invention are applicable to vending machines for otherpurposes. In apparatus 3 of the class described, the prior art devicesare of a complicated nature comprising an undue multiplicity of partsand from a manufacturingstandpoint, are not only expensive to construct,but also expensive to maintain.

It is an object of my invention, therefore, to provide a liquiddispenser which comprises a minimum number of parts and which iseconomical to manufacture and'install, as well as to maintain at arelatively low cost.

Another object is to provide in a liquid dispenser a novel combinationof valves and air vents whereby measured quantities of aliq- 0 uid maybe delivered in a short time from a main reservoir.

A further object of my inventionis to pro? vide a simple and novel coincontrol for a dispenser. a V Other objects will appear from the detaileddescription'which follows.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a front: elevation of a liquid dispensing device to whichmy invention 30 is applied;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on an enlarged scaleshowing the measuring device and related parts; 7

Figures 3 and A show, respectively, an in- :5 let valve and an outletvalve forming a part of my invention; 1

Figure 5 is a top plan View of the coin-controlled mechanism; and VFigure 6 is a cross sectional view on's'ec't'ion 4c 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawing in detail, my improved dispensing device:comprises a casing 1, which includes an upper portion 2, a lower 7portion 3,-and a base 41. A shelf 5 is arranged 4 to support a cup 6 inposition below a fluid delivery spout 7. The shelf is extended to apoint adjacent the delivery orifice 8 of a chute 9 whereby to'receive alump of sugar delivered from the chute at each operation'of the device.An operating rod 10 and a coin slot 1930. Serial misuse.

11 are arranged in convenient positions adjacent the spout 7.

A transverse partition 12 serves to support a fluid reservoir 13 withinthe casing portion 2 in position above a coin-controlled 55 dispensingmechanism located within the lower casing portion 3. I- prefer to employa reservoir of the thermos type formed by the usual inner. and outershells 14, 15. The reservoir is supported in an invertedposition withits neck or cap portion 16 extending through an opening 17 provided inthe partition. V a

A ring 18having a flange 19 and a threaded extension 20 is adapted toscrew upon the threaded portion of the neck 16. A plate or base 21. issupported in position upon the flange 19, which plate'in turn supports aliquid measuring container 22. A gasket 23 is arranged in positionbetween the end of the neck '16- and a flange 24 formed on the container22; This arrangement permits the container 22, gasket 23, and plate 21to be forced against the end of the neck 16 by rotation of the ring 18and extension 20 upon the neck. 1

A combined valve and valve operating tube 25 is rotatably mountedcentrally withinthe container 22. This tube is shown in detail inFigurej l and comprises essentially a tubular portion 26 and a valveportion 27. The portion 27 has the shape of an inverted truncated coneand is provided with a fluid outlet port 28' and an air inlet port 29,and, as shown in Figure 2, seats within a similarly" shaped extension 30formed on the plate 21. An air outlet port 31 is provided 1 at the,extreme upper end of the tube 25 and the tube is provided at itsopposite ends with threaded extensions 32,33 and 3A, the purpose "so ofwhich will be described later. a

Referring to Figure 2, the upper-end'o the'tube 25 is rotatably mountedin anopening formed centrally in the-top of the con tainer. A nut'35engagesthe threaded per-e tion 33 and serves to maintain the valveportion 27 within the extension 30. A valve operatingpinion 36 isthreaded upon the extension 34: and locked thereto by the pins 37. Avalve 38 is rotatably mounted onthe container 22 and is locked inposition on the tube 25 by means of a washer 39 and anut 40 whichengagethe extension 32.. The valve.

38 is provided with fluid inletports 41 which register in an openposition of the valve with ports 42 formed in the container 22.. Anoutlet port 43 for fluid and an'air inlet port 44 are formed in theextension to the plate2l. It will be noted from Figure 2 that the partsare in position to permit the delivery of the fluid. The valve 38 hasclosed the inlet portsliquid from the reservoir 13.. Itwill-be notedwhen port 43 is openthat air inlet port 44 is open. to permit airto fiowthrough ports 44,. 29 and 31 in succession, to vent air into a thecontainer 22, whereas when ports 43; and

. 44 are closed, the airinthe container 22 will be vented through theports 42 into-the reservoir 13, thereby permitting liquid to. flow from.the reservoir toithe container 22.. This arrangement of valves and.ports provides a very simple, compact and eflicient arrange:- mentwhereby to insure a quick passage of liquid to and from the measuring,container and a simultaneous venting of air fromiand to the container;and reservoir.

The operating mechanism: and coincontrol I for the dispenser will now bedescribed. As shown in detail in Figure 5, the operating rod- 10 isconnected to a slidebar 45, which in. turn; is mounted to slide in a.support or guide 46. The guide 46 is carried byte support 47 suitablymounted on the bottom plate 4 by means of posts 48-. The; support 47 isprovided with a bearing; 49 whichreceives a thrust bearing; 50- thatengages the lower end of the tube A spring is fixed at one end 52 to theguide 46' and at its other end 53 toalug 54 formed on: the bar 45. Arack bar 55 is mounted ontheslide bar 45 and engages the pinion 36. Anextension 56 onone end of the rackbar 55'slidingly' engages abearing 57.A coin slot 58 is formed partly in rack 55 and partly inrbar 45,'wherebythe, present-sofa coin in: this slot will'lock 7 A plate-59 atlixed tothe rack and bar together to cause them to slide as a unit. a jlug 60extends laterally from bar 45. V

the bar 45 serves to maintainthe-rack 55 in position on the bar 45. Aslot 60' is formed.- in-the bar 45 at a suitable locationfer the,purpose of permit- :ting the coin to drop from and below the slot 58-xtounlock the raekffr om} the bar at the proper point. ottheir joint;travel; ,A coin chute 61 extends from the-coin. slot 11 to a positionadjacent the slot 58. A bell crank pusher lever 62 is pivoted at 63 to afixed support. The free end of the pusher is adapted to engage thelowermost lump of sugar in the chute 9. A pin 64 projecting from rack 55is adapted to engagelever 62 to rotate the? latter clockwise while'a.spring 65 functions to restore the lever 62. A register 66 is operablyassociated by means of link 6*Zand l'ever 68-with the-lever- 62 to total ize the'operati ons of the device.

In the operation of my apparatus, a coin inserted in the slot 11 willroll by gravity along; the chute 61 and lodge itself in the slot 581 Aforward pull on the rod 10 will causethe slide 45 and. rack bar 55-tomove as a unit'since these two members arelocked together by-the coin.The: pinion 36 being in mesh with the rack. bar 55. will be rotatedtogether. with the" valve tube 26 whereby toclose the outlet port 43andv open the inlet ports 42,. and the container 22 will be. quicklyfilled with liquid from. the reservoir 13,.

. The forward movement. of the bar 55 will cause the pin. 64 o strikethezlever 62, thereby rotating the latter clockwise and causing a lumpofj'sugar to discharge from the chute 9.

Rotation of the lever 62fwill operate'the. Link 67 and crank 68 to movethe. register 66; one step. Theforward movement of the rod. 10 islimited by a: stop? 69 adj ustably mounted on the rod. When the rod 10-has reached its extreme -forward. position, the coin. in slot 58 will:ta-ll. by gravity through. the slot. 60.

.The operator is required to. return. the rod. 1-0

in order to receive a measured. quantity of liquid.

Whentherod 10 is pushedbaek, the lug :6:Q- on the slide 45 will engagethe rack 55 and returnthe latter to, its original position,

thereby rotating the pinion 36 and tube 26 in the counter-clockwisedirection, whereupon the outlet port 43 isopened andthe in let ports 42are closed. At the same. time,,the inlet air port 44 is opened topermit, air to flow upwardly through the tube 26 and out through air.port 31. into the container 22, whereby the contents.- of-thecontainerwill be permitted to flow through thespout 7 into the-cup 6; t r I claimas my invention 1-.. In a liquid. dispensing. device, a. main liquidreservoir, a measuring container located within said reservoir, one endof said container having a liquid inlet opening, a valve associated withsaid container end for controlling said opening, a tubular memberextending through said container and engaging said valve, said tubularmember provided with an air outlet at one end opening into said,container at a point adjacent said container end, and an air inletassociated with the opposite end of said tubular member and a liquidoutlet associated with the opposite end of said container.

3. In a liquid dispensing device, a main liquid reservoir, a closureplate for said reservoir, a measuring container supported on said plate,one end of said container being provided with a liquid inlet valve, atubular member extending through said container and operably associatedwith said valve, said plate being provided with a liquid outlet, a valveon said member for controlling said liquid outlet, said tubular memberbeing provided with an air outlet at one end opening directly into saidcontainer, said plate hav ing an air inlet therethrough andcommunicating with the interior of said tubular member.

4. In a liquid dispensing device, a main liquid reservoir, a closuremember therefor, a measuring container supported on said member, aliquid inlet valve on one end of said container, a liquid outlet valveon said closure member, a tubular rod connecting said valves interiorlyof said container, a

part associated with said outlet valve, for venting air through saidclosure member into said tubular rod, and means for venting air directlyfrom said tubular rod into said container at a point adjacent theupperend thereof.

5. In a liquid dispensing device, a main liquid reservoir, a measuringcontainer within said reservoir, an inner wall of said container beingprovided with a liquid inlet valve, a closure member for said container,

a liquid outlet associated Withsaid closure member, said closure'memberbeing provided with an air inlet, a single valve member forsimultaneously opening said outlet and said air inlet,a valve operatingtube within said container and operably connected to said valves, and anair outlet port formed in said tube and opening into the upper end ofsaid container.

In testimony whereof I ahix my signature.

ERIC SKON'BERG.

